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The Monson Law Firm founder Matthew Monson and Texas office Managing Attorney Ronald Hornback will be in attendance this week at Houston Insurance Day! With 133 Exhibitors and 1800 attendees, this is one of Texas’ premier insurance events. We look forward to visiting with our clients and other industry friends!

The Monson Law Firm has been accepted for membership in the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA)! WSIA is the non-profit association of professionals and specialty market leaders dedicated to the wholesale distribution system. WSIA represents the interests of its members and the valuable role they play in the insurance market through networking, education, talent recruitment and development, regulatory and legislative advocacy for the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines industry, and by promoting the value of the wholesale distribution channel.

The Monson Law Firm has now been serving our clients for 8 years! What started as one lawyer’s dream has turned into a successful three state law firm achieving amazing results and influencing the industry. We want to thank our family, friends and clients for making this possible. We look forward to being there for you for many years to come!

The Monson Law Firm founder Matthew Monson and Darryn Melerine of MD Claims Group are at the Windstorm Insurance Network 2019 Annual Conference in Orlando Florida presenting “Annihilating AOB”. We look forward to a lively discussion of the current status of assignment of benefits and the successes against the proliferation and abuse of AOB.

Matthew Monson is in attendance at the 2019 Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference in New Orleans. Hosted by the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, this growing conference provides interaction, education and collegiality among state regulators and industry professionals from 22 jurisdictions across the south. We look forward to seeing our clients and friends!

Attorney Lauren Baudot of The Monson Law Firm recently attended the 100th Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans. We enjoyed spending time meeting new friends and meeting with clients. AFBF is the unified national Voice of Agriculture, working through grassroots organizations to enhance and strengthen the lives of rural Americans and to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities.

The Monson Law Firm attorney Kevin Riche recently won a summary judgment motion on behalf of Southern Fidelity Insurance Company (“SFIC”) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In the matter entitled “Letitcia Wells vs. Southern Fidelity Insurance Company,” plaintiff made claim for over $200,000 in additional contractual amounts and bad faith damages following residential damage caused by a tornado. SFIC and plaintiffs agreed to the appraisal process, resulting in a confirmed appraisal award and additional payments to plaintiffs of only $13,406.12. In granting SFIC’s Motion for Summary Judgment, the Court determined that “SFIC timely reimbursed Plaintiff the undisputed costs of repair at every stage of the claims process”. Further, the Court held that “SFIC’s failure to pay Plaintiff the amount of the appraisal award before the award was given does not constitute evidence of bad faith.” As a result, the Court granted SFIC’s summary judgment motion and dismissed plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice. Pleaes click here for a copy of the Judgment.The Monson Law Firm has successfully used the appraisal process to efficiently handle first-party claims at lower litigation costs than the traditional “take everybody’s deposition” method, while at the same time greatly reducing the insurer’s bad faith exposure. If you think that you too can benefit from this approach, call The Monson Law Firm today!#NoBadFaith #Insurance #Winning

The Monson Law Firm is pleased to announce that attorney Katie Houlihan has joined our Florida office! Katie focuses on the defense of first and third party insurance claims. Katie has an expansive background in residential and commercial construction, risk management, insurance and fraud prevention. Prior to joining the firm, Katie served as general counsel for a prominent general contracting firm in South Florida. Katie also worked for over twelve years for a large national insurance carrier where she served as a licensed agent, special investigative unit analyst, litigation claim representative and outside counsel. Please join us in welcoming Katie to the firm!

The Monson Law Firm attorney Ronald Hornback recently obtained a voluntary nonsuit with prejudice on behalf of Lighthouse Property Insurance Company in the case of “Joseph B. Herrera v. Lighthouse”, pending in the 458th District Court in Fort Bend County, Texas, Cause No. 18-DCV-251288. In this case, the adjustment determined damage from Hurricane Harvey fell below the insured’s deductible. After a $50,350 demand was received from the insured, Lighthouse invoked appraisal to resolve the dispute as to the amount of the loss. The insured filed suit while appraisal was ongoing. The agreed appraisal award confirmed the damages were below the deductible. Facing a Motion for Summary Judgment to confirm the award and dismiss the case, the insured, represented by the Houston firm of Daly & Black, agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice. Please see attached Notice of Non-Suit here.

The Monson Law Firm looks forward to attending the 2018 Texas Surplus Lines Association Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas this weekend! It will be great to see our clients and friends in such a great city! #insurance #Texas #Conferences #SurplusLines

The Monson Law Firm is proud and humbled to be invited to participate in Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporations’ Agency Rewards Trip in beautiful San Diego, California. Many thanks to Michael Durovic and Patrick White for our close relationship. Congratulations to all Lighthouse agency partners for their continued success!

Attorney Ronald Hornback out of The Monson Law Firm’s Texas office recently won a Motion to Disqualify and Strike Insureds’ appraiser, Henry Sienema of Case Strategies Group, LLC, in the case of Lighthouse Prop. Ins. Corp. v. Acosta” before the 61st District Court of Harris County, Texas. After invocation of appraisal, the insureds’ counsel sent notice and demand, supported by an estimate performed by David Sienema, also of Case Strategies Group. On oral hearing, the Court found that Henry’s family relationship with David as well as his being Vice President of the company that performed the estimate both precluded him from being impartial, as required by the Policy. The Honorable Judge Fredricka Phillips signed the Order at the hearing which both struck Mr. Sienema and requires insureds to appoint a competent and impartial appraiser in accord with the Policy. Please click here for a copy of that Order.

In the case of “Lighthouse Property Insurance Corporation v BMW of North America, LLC”, The Monson Law Firm alleged that a BMW parked in the insured’s garage suddenly caught fire, even though the vehicle had been turned off. Despite the fact that BMW denied all allegations and proceeded with an aggressive defense of all claims, The Monson Law Firm maintained the pressure on BMW. During litigation, BMW issued two recalls covering the vehicle in question due to a propensity of the vehicles to catch fire when off. In order to resolve the litigation, BMW entered into a confidential settlement and did not admit liability.

Even when a major manufacturer aggressively defends its product in litigation, The Monson Law Firm stands strong to get a favorable result for its client.

The Monson Law Firm attorney Lindsay Frenkel Lobello recently obtained a voluntary dismissal on behalf of Lloyd’s Underwriters in the case of “Danny Daniel, v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London”, pending in the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Case No. 2018-3899. In this case, Mr. Daniel filed suit seeking additional funds under a homeowner’s policy for damage to a bathroom allegedly caused by a sewer backup. At the time of the inspection, the bathroom had already been demolished and was in the process of a complete renovation.In response to the suit, The Monson Law Firm prepared a Motion to Dismiss and For Sanctions pursuant to Florida Statute §57.105, as Underwriters were clearly prejudiced in their ability to investigate the claimed loss. Please click here for a copy of the Motion to Dismiss.Upon receiving The Monson Law Firm motion, counsel for plaintiff filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal with the court within the 21 day safe harbor statutory deadline to avoid sanctions. Please click here for a copy of the Notice of Dismissal.

On August 1, 2018, Erika Luening filed for and obtained a Temporary Restraining Order against Nader “Anthony” Odeh pursuant to La. R.S. 46:2171 et seq., otherwise known as the Louisiana Protection from Stalking Act. Luening operates a business at 4409 Zenith Street, directly next door to the office of Claims Consulting & Contracting at 4405 Zenith Street. Currently pending in the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson, Case No. 786-208, Luening alleges that Odeh “said he had guns and would use them on us if anyone came near his parking lot”. According to Luening, the police “recommend a protection order for myself and children who come to work with me. They also recommended that we get police details because the situation is violent.” Please click here to see the Petition Odeh Stalking Petition and here to see the Temporary Restraining Order. Odeh Temporary Restraining Order

In the case of “Americas Insurance Company v. Billie J. Haynes, et al”, the Honorable Jay Zainey issued an order excluding both Nader “Anthony” Odeh and Maria Odeh as witnesses for the claimants. The Monson Law Firm requested the depositions of the Odehs, who were identified by claimants in discovery as their witnesses. The Monson Law Firm was informed by claimants’ attorney that “I am no longer in contact with Maria Odeh and/or Nader Anthony Odeh for various reasons. If you do schedule either of their depositions, the location will have to be either at your offices, at the Bar Association, or a neutral location. My firm is not travelling to Mr. Odeh’s office on Zenith Street due to safety concerns, so please subpoena their presence elsewhere.” Please see counsel’s correspondence here. Counsel Email

Service of deposition subpoenas was attempted by a private process server on October 18, October 23, October 30, December 1, December 4 (twice), and December 7, 2017. Despite these many attempts, service could not be obtained at the Odehs’ offices or their personal residence. On October 18, the process server observed Odeh at his office but Odeh did not answer the door.

After The Monson Law Firm filed a Motion to Exclude Witnesses due to the Odehs’ non-participation, Judge Zainey ordered “if Anthony Odeh and Maria Odeh have not submitted to a deposition they will not testify at trial under any circumstances.” Please see the Court’s Order here. Odeh Excluded